saw this license plate on the way in, gotta love trekkies
when I got in the main theater Grace Lee Whitney aka Yeoman Janice Rand was on stage talking to Adam. You know I never got to like Yeoman Rand on the show, which was probably because she spent such a brief time on the show, only 8 episodes. She was very open and honest, which I really respected and think it was very brave of her to divulge that at a wrap party she got drunk and went off with an executive and was sodomy raped. Very shortly after this they allowed her to be let out of her contract. She went on to talk about how years later she ran into DeForest Kelley (in the unemployment line I think) and him telling her about Star Trek conventions and getting her back in touch with Gene Roddenberry who told her about the revival of the Star Trek show which ended up being The Motion Picture and her getting involved. She spoke fondly of her time on Star Trek. Adam asked her about the amazing sets that she said were made out of spit and rubber bands and the actual amazing sets for The Motion Picture that were so great they seemed they could actually fly. But that men were behind the sets snoring because they had to be back there to pull the rope to open the doors, saying this was how archaic it all was on the original series. She talked about the unrequited love her character had for Captain Kirk, because he was already in love with the Enterprise. She said during a kiss with William Shatner he slipped a couch drop in her mouth hahaha. Its too bad I didn't get to the convention sooner to hear all of Grace Lee Whitney speak but I really enjoyed hearing what I did.
then James Darren came to talk on stage. He talked to fans about DS9. But a few fans asked about Gidget and he said he thought Sandra Dee was so cute but was a good boy cause her mother was on set every day and ruled with an iron arm (I think he meant fist) and that he and Sandra were too young to get involved anyway. Another fan asked about Time Tunnel and he talked about how itchy the wool turtle neck was, having been made out of such course material and that they eventually lined it with silk so it would be more comfortable. I think he also said he still has it in his closet. I was glad he talked a little bit about Gidget since I haven't ever seen him on DS9 and I love him so much as Moondoggie.
meanwhile to the side of the stage, near where I was sitting George Takei was signing autographs. I was close enough to see him and his partner, which reminded me of in 2009 when my mom and I rode in an elevator with him and Brad at the Hilton! So exciting!
next up was Sir Patrick Stewart. He was pretty cute. He mentioned first how he was made aware by a man who got his autograph this year on a photo of him and Patrick Stewart from last years convention and that he was wearing the same clothes as last years convention. But wanted to assure everyone he was not down to his last outfit and it was a huge coincidence. It was at this time that the theater was nearly packed. Cause not only was it Patrick Stewart but Kate Mulgrew and William Shatner were also going to join him on stage. While on stage solo a fan asked him to tell a story about an interesting experience he has had with a fan. He told us there were MANY but a more recent experience was at another convention not to long ago where someone came up to him in the dealers room and whispered in his ear that a fan wanted to propose marriage to his girlfriend in front of him. He said okay and the man brought his girlfriend over to where Patrick was and unexpected to his girlfriend proposed to her, she agreed and Patrick took both their hands and said "engaged." Haha, get it? Pretty funny. He said it was very special and a moving experience he was happy to be a part of.
while Patrick was speaking Brent Spiner snuck out into the line of people waiting to ask questions and pretended to be an ignorant Star Trek fan. This gave the audience a great laugh.
finally Kate and Bill came and joined him on stage. Bill likes to have the spotlight on him so he talked a lot...which I loved! He is my favorite! So I was glad. They got asked some captain related questions and then Patrick had to leave to catch a flight. When it was just Kate and Bill on stage the spoke about how they met and about the documentary Bill did called The Captains, I need to watch that. When it was just Bill on stage a young fan asked about the death of Kirk to which Bill had a really long answer but that he ultimately decided that it was better to have a part in death of Kirk than to not. He talked a lot about the more deep, profound affect that Star Trek has. And the more deep spiritual side of life. He spoke about how it was wonderful to meet all the people he has at this convention while working on his new documentary Fan Addicts. He had the audience all scream and hold up signs saying Fan Addicts for the documentary, so when it comes out, I'm in that crowd somewhere.
after the three captains it was Asian power time! George Takei and John Cho came on stage accompanied by Garrett Wang, all there as the Asians represented in Star Trek. George talked about the significance of being an Asian on tv in the sixties. When the two of them were asked questions you could see that John was so new and inexperienced with the significance of Star Trek to its fans and culture. His answers were much more shallow and you could tell he did not identify with all of it like the senior cast of the original series does. I'm not saying it s a bad thing I am merely expressing that it was apparent. I would have been surprised if he had been more insightful and aware of such things. He did however mention that when he was offered or when he accepted the role that he had lunch with George to discuss the fact that he was Korean and not Japanese like George and if the fans would be displeased with that. But George explained that it was Genes vision that many cultures and races be represented and come together and the fact that he was Asian and there to represent all of Asia. I think George said it was a quote from Gene or that he had heard from Gene about "the water of the sea touches all shores" and that was what Star Trek was to represent.
and lastly on stage was Nichelle Nichols. She was to start at 6:30 so I go there a few minutes before but she had already started I guess because she had a flight to catch. I came to appreciate the original series cast speakers the best. All of them really identify with the characters they portrayed and were very aware and respectful of the vision Gene had. Nichelle was asked by a fan how she got her beautiful name and told us how when she was 11 or 12 she told her mother she didn't like her name Grace or being called Gracie. Her mother told her that her and her father were going to name her Michelle and that was an option but she didn't see herself as a Michelle but they came up with Nichelle instead. She talked about politics. She spoke about the cultural significance of being a black female on tv at the time. She mentioned about finding out that Obama had a crush on her as Uhura when he was younger, she was really proud of that. She sang a lot too, she was nice to see speak.
here are the goodies I took with me from the convention. I purchased the Mugato toy for five bucks. There really wasn't that much stuff in the vendors room that I was interested in purchasing. There were some Hallmark Star Trek ornaments that I would loved to have had but those get really expensive as they get older. There was a Star Trek pop up book but it was not that impressive for the price the vendor wanted for it.
So after all this I got back in my car and headed home around seven. It was a beautiful night, the moon was full and gorgeous. Driving in the moonlight I got into a meditative state and had lots to think about. I'm glad I ended up going. It was not as miserable to go alone as I thought it would have been. A few people talked to me about the cool Star Trek shirts I was wearing and I sat next to two lovely people from Montana and Ohio. I never got their names but it was an uncle and niece. This was their first convention and were having a blast. They were so nice, every time they got out food to snack on they would offer me some. I was offered fig newtons, gummy bears and chocolate. They really played a part in making my convention going experience better because I thought by going alone I would not have anyone speak to me for two days. When the convention was over they wished me a safe journey home and I was so caught off guard by this niceness that all I could quickly think to say was that it was nice to meet them.
I don't think I need to go to another Star trek convention for a while. Maybe in five years when Star Trek turns 50. Maybe Leonard will come out of retirement to celebrate 50 years. I did have a thought that it would be cool to go to a convention as a dealer and sell my Star Trek art. I would have to make more than I have at the moment but I thought it was an interesting idea I might think about.
